30% Of Young Drivers Break The Law During Their First Years Driving

24 April 2014

A survey conducted by Vision Critical and road safety charity the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) reveals that nearly 30% of drivers between 18 and 25 years of age break the law during their first years on the road.

Even though young drivers spend many weeks studying to pass their tests, a staggering 68% of this age group believe they need to improve, while a quarter admit they have been involved in a car crash. Among the other findings is the fact that 20% of people who were seriously injured or killed in a road accident in 2012 were involved in a car crash where at least one of the vehicles was driven by a young motorist.

Furthermore, some 22% of all road collisions involved at least one driver in the 18-25 age group and of the 32,400 crashes involving at least one young motorist, 350 ended with a fatality and over 4,100 people were seriously injured. Of all the 542 motorists who were killed in a car accident in 2012, 133 were young drivers.

The poll indicates that young drivers do not feel well prepared to drive on their own, says Simon Best, chief executive of IAM. The driver education system fails to adequately train the next generation of drivers and it desperately needs a review. Experience of different traffic conditions is imperative along with dealing with negative behaviour on the roads. This can be achieved effectively through group discussions rather than simply relying on tightened control and limitations, he added.